Breadcrumb Trail Links

Elise Stolte: Worst walk on my commute is city-owned. A winter city doesn't have to be this painful

Author of the article:

Elise Stolte

Publishing date:

January 21, 2019 • 4 minute read

Edmonton resident Aaron Lardner and his service dog Hughie at a bus stop near 111 Avenue and 124 Street, in Edmonton Saturday Jan. 19, 2019. Lardner says he'd be the first to sign up if Edmonton had a volunteer-based snow clearing program to make certain bus stops and paths are clear.David Bloom/ Postmedia

Article Sidebar

Share this Story: Elise Stolte: Worst walk on my commute is city-owned. A winter city doesn't have to be this painful

Trending

Article content

If I fall on my way to work this winter, my bet is it will be on a city-owned sidewalk. That’s why I shudder every time people lobby for the city to take over extra snow clearing.

The issue is at a neighbourhood school. The pathway from the parking lot to the school doors is the school’s responsibility and is immaculate. But the heavily-used sidewalk around the block — the city’s responsibility — is treacherous. I’m pretty sure it hasn’t see bare pavement since the freezing rain hit last fall.

Elise Stolte: Worst walk on my commute is city-owned. A winter city doesn't have to be this painfulBack to video

In this and other high-traffic locations, city crews can’t get there fast enough. Policy demands they clear it within 48 hours, but instead the snow gets packed down. It turns to ice when we hit a warm spell. One wrong move and presto, you’re lucky if you’ve only got a bruise.

Last winter, more than 5,700 people landed in Edmonton emergency departments with concussions, a severe brain bleed, fractured wrists, broken ribs and other injuries after falling on the ice and snow. With the ice before Christmas, this year’s numbers could be even worse.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content continued

Of course, private walks have issues, too. One scofflaw on a block is problematic.

It seems a haphazard approach isn’t recognizing how critical sidewalks can be. Maybe this was OK when Edmonton got hit with snow and stayed cold all winter. But the ice seems to be getting worse as Edmonton sees more freeze-thaw cycles and freezing rain. At the same time, more people want to walk in transit-friendly, higher-density neighbourhoods or just go out for exercise.

It’s a double-whammy and it needs a thoughtful solution. Here are three ideas.

Stronger Snow Angels

Edmonton used to have a Snow Angels program that rewarded people who shovelled a neighbours’ walk with a thank-you letter from the mayor and chance to win prizes. Low participation saw it cancelled in 2016, replaced with a program that refers seniors to external agencies for assistance.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content continued

But I think willing volunteers just weren’t mobilized well enough.

Take Aaron Lardner for example. The former army medic is retired but is still up at 5 a.m. everyday, looking for a way to give back to the community. Lend him a small mechanized brush and he says he’d love to clear bus stops near his house and a block of sidewalk in each direction. That’s more than we’ve got now.

“If you get at it quickly it’s easier, and people really appreciate the gesture,” he said, quickly volunteering during a robust Facebook debate over whether the city should be responsible for all sidewalks.

Could this expand what gets cleared quickly? Community leagues could help organize and pick local priorities if the volunteer boards have organizational support from the city. But Snow Angels need more recognition, backup and publicity — to be thanked in the community newspaper and get gifts more substantial than a letter from the mayor, like tickets to the Art Gallery of Alberta, an Edmonton Eskimos game or the Valley Zoo.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content continued

Tougher enforcement

Complaints are up, warnings are up and so are tickets. This option is already starting. For several years now near the University of Alberta, bylaw officers have been delivering a general warning to everyone. Then they go right to tickets, no warnings, for problem walks. That was at the community’s request.

If there’s an issue beside either private or public property, call 311 and the city will get to it within four business days, said Chantel Perizzolo, the acting co-ordinator. They generally don’t accept complaints within 48 hours after a snow fall, but they do if there is a safety hazard. Sidewalks must be cleared to bare pavement.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content continued

Now with 311 available in a phone app, there’s no excuse for complaining rather than reporting issues. I’m making a note of this myself to report the neighbourhood school sidewalks.

Restrict help to high-traffic areas

Not all sidewalks are equal. Shovelling at the end of a cul-de-sac is easy. But try shovelling beside the Belgravia LRT Station, for example. Homeowners who aren’t out before the train starts running at 5:30 a.m. can expect a miserable task, said Coun. Ben Henderson. “It’s so deeply packed that it’s really hard for them to do.”

Every winter people argue the city should be responsible for clearing all sidewalks since they are public right-of-ways. But Edmonton is spread out with so many sidewalks, the cost would cause a painful jump in property taxes.

Advertisement

Story continues below

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content continued

But city equipment should be used to help in high-traffic areas, including to help private homeowners. But don’t expect city crews to do everything. As Henderson says, clearing snow is a community effort. “We either pay with our taxes or with our labour.”

Those are three ideas. I expect more coming. Coun. Michael Walters is planning on a winter sidewalk symposium for early this year to get community leagues, snow removal experts, engineers and city officials working together. Their proposals will probably land before council after the snow melts.

Give it some thought. Edmonton is a winter city, but maybe winter doesn’t have to be this painful.

Share this Story: Elise Stolte: Worst walk on my commute is city-owned. A winter city doesn't have to be this painful

Trending

Related Stories

This Week in Flyers

Article Comments

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

Notice for the Postmedia Network

This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.